“I’ve made a lot of money!” Unfazed by Dana White’s arrival, Eddie Hearn gets real about Turki Alalshikh’s business

Eddie Hearn, CEO of Matchroom Boxing, shares his thoughts on the new boxing promotion announced by Turki Alalshikh and Dana White.

“I’ve made a lot of money!” Unfazed by Dana White’s arrival, Eddie Hearn gets real about Turki Alalshikh’s business

Eddie Hearn addresses his relationship with Saudi Arabia following Dana White-Turki Alalshikh deal (Image via Bloody Knockout/Imago/X)

Since the arrival of Saudi GEA chairman Turki Alalshikh, the professional boxing community has experienced several significant changes. These changes have largely been aimed at elevating the sport’s stature on the global stage. While some may argue that these adjustments have diminished the impact of established figures in the industry, Eddie Hearn disagrees.

A few days ago, Turki Alalshikh announced joining hands with TKO Group Holdings. Along with the Saudi delegate, Dana White and Nick Khan are preparing to launch a new boxing promotion that will differ significantly from the current structure. Interestingly, after the announcement, Eddie Hearn, CEO of Matchroom Boxing, was asked whether this would potentially end his partnership with Alalshikh.

I don’t think [it’s the end of our relationship], but if he has [moved on], thank you very much. I’ve enjoyed it. I’ve made a lot of money and our fighters have had a great opportunity. My relationship with His Excellency is a very good one, it’s a very deep one. We’ve been extremely loyal to him, he’s been extremely loyal to us…. We don’t rely on Saudi Arabia to run it you know for our business but we enjoy it and it’s also been very productive and fruitful for Matchroom and our fighters.

Eddie Hearn in a recent media scrum (h/t: BoxingScene)
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When Alalshikh first entered the boxing world, not all promoters were welcoming. However, Hearn was among those who were excited to see how the Saudi delegate could make a significant impact in the sport. As time went on, Alalshikh worked his magic and funded several major boxing events. Interestingly, in the process, the Saudi delegate even backed some of Matchroom Boxing’s grand boxing nights.

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The fight between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois is a prime example of the successful collaboration between Eddie Hearn and Alalshikh. This event even set a record for the highest attendance in a boxing match at Wembley Stadium. Given the success, Hearn is quite satisfied with his partnership with Alalshikh. As a result, he is not concerned about the Saudi delegate’s new partnership with the UFC CEO.

Dana White heaps praise and believes Turki Alalshikh has brought boxing back

UFC CEO Dana White has developed a strong relationship with Saudi delegate Turki Alalshikh, who has played a significant role in the success of the UFC in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the grand Noche UFC event (UFC 306) received backing from the chairman of the Saudi GEA. Over time, the bond between these two prominent figures in their respective fields has only grown stronger.

Turki Alalshikh and Dana White together
Turki Alalshikh and Dana White together (Image via Instagram)

After months of building excitement regarding White’s involvement in boxing, the UFC CEO announced his partnership with Alalshikh. Following this announcement, several prominent figures in combat sports wished them success with this significant development. As for the UFC CEO, in a recent interview, White expressed his admiration for Alalshikh while discussing his new endeavor.

These are things that we might wanna pump the brakes on… My friend Turki gets too excited… We actually are getting together with him tomorrow. We’re gonna shoot some content… We have a massive fight. Literally and this is what I’m talking about. A massive fight that only [Alalshikh] could make happen… And we will announce it when we’re ready to, but this is the guy that has literally brought boxing back.

Dana White via The Pat McAfee Show

The first fight event of the promotion is expected to take place in September 2025. However, there is still uncertainty regarding who the headlining boxers will be for that night. Among the potential contenders, Mexican boxing sensation Canelo Alvarez has expressed his willingness to be featured on the card as the inaugural headliner. It will be interesting to see how developments unfold in the coming months.

Related: Dana White’s Parents: Did they have a good relationship with the UFC CEO?